Current Information:

Age-21

33, Candy Street, Bow

On 23rd January, 1915, the 2nd Devonshire battalion of 23 Brigade, 8th Division left their billets in La Flinque near Laventie and relieved the 2nd Scottish Rifles in nearby trenches where they remained until 26th January.

The enemy often seemed to know when an inter-battalion relief was taking place in the front line opposite them and then did as much as they could to disrupt it. This meant targeting the approach communication trenches with their artillery and keeping up a high level of machine-gun and rifle fire. Reliefs therefore were times of extra danger and many a soldier was killed or wounded during them. This may have been the fate of Frank Gilbert who was killed on 23rd January.